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Excluding confidential records, public court records are available to anyone and may be used for news publications, academic research and non-profit organizations. They may not, however be used for commercial purposes of any nature. Requests can be made through mail, online or in person, and records may be copied for a small fee.

Even so, there are some instances wherein the records are stored privately. An individual in a legal action can petition the court to “seal” a legal document. This implies its contents can not become part of the general public record. A strong argument will have to be in place for a court to allow the request. What Is A Clerk Of Courts?

These records, known as court dockets, include the events that unfold during the proceedings, the appearances that are made, the arguments that are used, and the resulting verdict. Information that is recorded in court dockets are considered to be public records. Therefore, an individual has the right to access public court records.